Washer



Patented J uly 28, 1925.

UN1TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNES'I A. BOHLMAN, OB CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 KELLOGG SWI'I'CHBOARD AND SUIPIPLY COMPANY, OF CEIICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COBPORA'IION 0]? ILLINOIS.

WASHER.

Application filed August 15, 1919. Serial N0. 317,637.

T0 all whom z't may concem:

Be it known that I, ERNEST A. BOHLMAN, a, citizen of the United Stat(es of America, residing als Chicago, in the county of Cool: und State of I11in0is, have invented new am1 useful Improvements in Washers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to washers in genera1 and has 130 do more particularly with Washers of the type used for cushioning or packing purposes. The washer 0f my invention may be used for various purposes, and '1s particularly adapted 130 be used in conjunction with terminal screws such as am used 0n terminal strips, to which terminal clips 01 conductors are connected.

The present type of Washers. in use a1e provided with an orifice slightly larger than the body 01 the screw so as to permit it L0 be slipped over the body of the screw. W hen a terminal or wire is to be removed, the screw is loosened und the connection taken off. New, vvhen another connection is 130 be made, the washer must be 1ifted t0 allow the conductor or terminal to be inserted between the washer and termirml strip before the screw may again be tightened. A terminal of.this construction is ope'n to the objectio-n that it is necessary w hold the washer in a raised osition while a conductor is beinginserted, and as terminals are often used in places where they are hard 110 mach, it me-ans added w0-rk and n lass 0f time whenmaking such a connectiou. The washer of nly invention overcomes these objections by being provided with upturned prongs which form an orifice of a size to receive the body portion of a screw, so that when the screw is tightened the prongs are flattened. out und assume the plane of the washer proper, am]. these pi*ongs rest und-er the head of the screw so that when the screw is again loosened the washer is carried by the screw. New, when a connection is to be mad6 all that it is necessary 130 x10 is t0 place the conduebor under the washer and tighten the screw.

It is the object 0f my invention to produce an improved device of the dass described which will obvia'te the above-mentioned objections and embody desirable features and advantages all in a simple, eificient anal economical manner; and to the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear the iriventiqn consists in the novel detai1s of construction, parts, and combination 0f parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

F 01 a more complete understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the ac-= companying drawing in Which like reference characters in the several views denote like parts a1'1d in which:

F ig. 1 is an elevation of the washerof my invention asso ciated with a terminal sc'rew and plate;

F ig. 2 is a view similar t3' Fig. 1, but showing the washer in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

2, but showing the washer secured t0 the screw;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view a1ong the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the washer 01 my invention.

Referring now more in detail to my invention as illustrated, the washer cont1prises a disk 1 perforated as illustrated in Fig. (S, having three upturned prongs 2, 3 and 4. The opening 5 formed by the prongs 2, 3 and 4, is of a size 130 2\110W the washer to be slipped overthe body 6 0f the screw 7, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5.

The screw 7 is provided with a threaded body portion 6 which may be rolled thereon, am]. a. screw when formed in this manner is What is commonly known s a 1'011 threaded screw. A screw when roll threaded hasthe threaded portion 6 enlarged, and the porti on 9 just under the head 10 thereof rema1ns normal in size. Now, when the sorew 7 is tightened, in Order to clamp a suitable terminal or conductor in position, the prongs 2, 3 and 4 are pressed down into the plane of the rest of the washer W, so that the prongs 2, 3 and 4 rest in the space 9 between the head of the screw and the threaded body portion 6. VVhen the terminal or conductor, which the screw is clamping in position, is to be removed, all that it is necessary to do is to loosen the screw and remove the couductor. Owing 130 the fast that the prongs 2, 3 and 4 rest in the reduced portion 9 0f the screw, the washer is raised with the screw when the screw is turned.

The prongs of the washer are so formed that the orifice 5 in the Washer is of a size Fig. 4 is a sect1onal view similar to Fig.

to just receive the threaded portion of the screw, Then when the prongs of the washer are straightened cut they grip the portion 9 of the screw, thereby securing the washer to the screw.

From the foregoing, many of theadvan tages of my device Will at onoe be apparent.

The washer am]. thescrew are each formed' separately so that it is not necessary that they be assen'1bled at the p1ace where they are made. The washers may be used in con nection With any type of screw already. iI'1' independently of the screw, so that when a;

conductor is being clamped in place th e washer does not rotate when the screw 1s turned.

VVhile the invention has been described with particular reference to the details 0f constrction, it should be understood that it is not limited. thereto as many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing therefro-m, and I therefore, wish.to cover all such changes and modificati ons Which come' within the spirit and scope of the appended clziin1s,

Having described my invgntion, what I cl gim as new and desire to secure' by United States Letters Patent, is:

- l. An a rtic1e of manufactxire comprising a plate 1ike member having its central body -portion cut away to form a plurality 'of inwardly projectingmembers and to provide a central opening thl"ough said member, each of said proj'eotmg members being separated by openings extending outwardly from said central opening nd substant-ially of the same size and contour of sa.id inwardly projecting members, said inwardly projecting members being of the same size and. bent upwardly relative to the plane of the body port1on of said plante like member, a screw-threaded member having an .annular groove adapted to r(aceive the -ends 0f said inwardly projecting mernbers while the bod y ortion of said screw threaded member engages said inwardly project ing members, said inwardly projecting members grasping said. screw threaded member to prevent rotation of said plate like member relative t0 said scr6w threaded member thereby forming a single operating suit.

2. An article 0 f manufacture comprising a washer having its central body por tion cut away to form inwardly projectihg members, the ends of said inwardly projecting members extending slig'htly upwardly and forming the peyiphery of a central opening through sz ud .washer, said inwardly projecting members being separated from each other by openings extending outwardly from said central opening toward the periphery of said washer and substantially of the same size and contour as said inward- 1y projecting members, a cylindrical mem ber provided with a head and having an annu1ar groove immediatly below the head of said member, said cylindrical member adapted to extend through the central opening in said washer, and s'aid washer when pla ced 011 said cylindrical member and screw drawn into position bearing said upwardly extending ende: down into said annular groove whereby said inwardly projecting members assume the plane of the body p01= tion of the washer thereby perr'nanently attaching said washer to said cylindrical member.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the couhty of Cook andState of Illinois, this 13th day of August, 1919.

ERNEST A. BOI-ILMAN. 

